Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 17 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($227,200 vs $314,400)
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $33,318/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 6.3%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $33,318 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$87k less
$227,200 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$33,318
$87,758 vs $54,440/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
6% lower
371.0 vs 392.9 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 9.5% unemployment
Suffolk
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 17 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 6 and Suffolk wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Bridgeport to Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $314,400 median home), income ($54,440 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Suffolk, VA are about 361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.